HTC Touch Diamond vs. iPhone, fight!
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 13th 2008 6:49AM
posted May 13th 2008 6:49AM
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Wow, really makes the iphone look like the cow that it is!
Very true.
"Wow, really makes the iphone look like the cow that it is!"
they're almost the same size, i think you dont understand perspective.
No, bob, it's only fair to use the same language they would use. The iPhone fans dont care if a competing device is only .5mm larger on any given side. If the other phone is fatter, then it's fatter!
We should also refer to the iPhone as "clunky" and "chunky" when compared to the "sleek" and "sexy thin" Diamond. For consistency sake.
It's a great looking phone no doubt but for almost the same overall size you get a much larger and better(debatable) screen on the iPhone... Too much space below the screen on the Diamond.
Yeah, that huge screen on the iPhone is really obscene.
..rolls eyes..
Whoa whoa whoa... What's going on here? Why would Engadget let this new "bob" use the same name as me - Bob - but lowercase...?? Change your display name "little bob", you are making me look bad.
Yeah my opinion of Bob has gone down significantly.
Here's the Google translation
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This is the contact person compared interface, the screen of diamonds can be said that many gorgeous. Here it into a diamond-interface two years ago I read in the mobius seminars, so Microsoft should be developed together with the htc, but I asked htc personnel, are to remain silent.
Diamond-diamond-shaped patterns on the reverse side is good, thank yeager light of a strong, my iphone already witness. 3.2 megapixel，iphone In addition diamonds for a 3.2 megapixels camera, is also a bar where, iphone can not AF has been the pain of my heart.
This is the above comparison, the performance of the diamond-linked in comparison. 不過鑽石機沒有3.5mm！ But the diamond-not the 3.5 mm headphone jack, really want to Dapi Gu is!
This is the newsletter of the screen, the diamond machine interface is relatively beautiful, good-for-newsletter content "Gone with the Wind", but I personally use the time and try to have a half-day trial did not, but the htc next to me and the media are out of the trial, So his uncle still have to practice the. iphone Iphone personal preference or the bubble dialogue table
This is the interface of music, gorgeous on both sides of the same fluency of the same, sound output, the diamond-Lueshengyichou.
Browser part of the Diamond machine is opera browser, below the arc with the smooth path to zoom in and out of action (in google map on the same feasible), is quite smooth, and the screen still has a "Top" feature Button, the screen can be pulled to the top of the page, which features a full close.single touch， But the diamond-is single touch, the screen needs to point the page point. iphone的multitouch Personally think that this part of the iphone multitouch is still relatively rods.
iphone在Youtube和Google Mapn iphone沒。 There is a comparison screen can not shoot, is the diamond-and iphone in Youtube and Google Map of the special comparative picture, because iphone no way the Internet, where it is a pity.
iphone Fluency of the part of individuals or feel the iphone win, but this is the operating system root of the problem. There is another point I am dissatisfied with is that the diamonds of rotating the screen, really do not have the feeling rotation, which engineers should be able to着墨, no one to make.
windows mobile 24,000 Comparing generally the case, I can not say that the diamond-is the perfect machine, but compared to other windows mobile-based products, this product really has been a leading state, but prices have not been disclosed, only heard about NT The gossip around 24,000 yuan, which has not yet been verified, we all listed in June, and so on!
---------------------------------------------------
BTW, here's a sizeasy comparison.
http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_comparison/12927-Apple-iPhone-vs-HTC-Diamond
I certainly wouldn't call the iPhone a cow. I'm sure the Diamond will be a very nice phone, but I highly doubt that it will be as easy to use as the iPhone. Just have to wait and see. Also, my old Motorola L6 was much slimmer and smaller overall than my iPhone, plus it did instant messaging and email, and games, but........... do I even need to go any further?
But it runs Windows Mobile.... sigh. :(
Hate windows......love mac os X.....Love Diamond..........conflict!
Yeah, it must really suck to be able to install whatever programs you want.
Affirmative it really does suck. I really hate all those third party apps on my Vox (WM 6.1)!
Agreed, it's a great phone but I never got on with windows mobile, call me when they've got android on that sucker! :)
@ w00t
Idiot. Read carefully before you agree on something.
Ya, Windows Mobile is so horrible, with all those extra features, and things that make life easier...
Anyone that has had voice dialing (true recognition) on their Windows Mobile or even Motorola Phones for over 4 years now, don't seem to mind.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/voicecommand/tutorials.mspx
•iPhone cute - Apple Marketing Makes it seem cool.
•Windows Mobile - Can be as cute - Easier to use - Even remote desktop into your desktop computer on it and run business applications.
(I am amazed everytime I touch my Bluetooth ear piece and say Dial Grandma and it just works. iPhone users, maybe some day you can do this cool stuff too. When you can use 99% of the features of your phone without looking at the screen, how cute does it have to be again?)
wow... god i LOVE competition. iphone 2'd better be good, REAL good.
man i love being spoilt for (good) choices :)
The big screen on the iPhone is great for web viewing and watching videos; As all have been saying: iPhone is an iPod with a phone, and it serves its main purpose very well; of course plus many other great uses.
What makes me pick the Diamond is: Windows Mobile. Although the core system is old in style, it is surely powerful and current in tech stuff, I mean, Touch 3D was built all over WinMo and it still is running great! I would love to see some news about any extra software to be produced for the Diamond later on.
At this stage, I will not judge hardware until the 3G iPhone is out.
My wish list: Diamond, Xperia, 3G iPhone.
Ah, same wish list here. The wait for the 3G iPhone is unbearable.
i'm afraid winmob is a 10 year old flop based on the flop that is ce. having one OS for desktop and mobile devise is the way forward.
Bob,
Windows CE is Windows in the same way that OS X for iPhone is OS X for desktop. The APIs for CE are almost identical to Windows Vista and infact Windows CE was created from the Windows codebase 10 years ago.
Plus, do you see Apple offering their compact OSX to device manufacturers? For $3 a unit any manufacturer can create a Windows CE device (and there are lots of different CE devices out there). My SatNav, Phone and Digital Picture Frame are running Windows CE. I do not think you could classify that as a "flop".
I've been waiting for this fight for a loooooong time! :D
Keep waiting- it isn't fair to compare the iPhone to a brand new phone with over a year to target the current generation iPhone, give it a month and compare it to the 3G iPhone, that way they are on even ground.
for some reason when i saw "fight" i was thinking more along the lines of smashing them into one another like hot wheels cars.
@SirSilence: BUT it is completely fair to compare and say how much better the iPhone is to, say, the N95 which is a device several generations older than the iPhone.
I don't understand why some people are saying this is an unfair comparison. It's an ever-changing mobile phone market so such comparison is normal, plus I saw no biased opinions towards the newer phone in the article.
my major complaint with the iphone is that it's too big... the diamond looks just right
No. This phone is too small, bringing us right back to the same old problem of pill-sized phones: THE MIC IS NOWHERE NEAR YOUR MOUTH.
If people want a phone with a smaller footprint than the iPhone, it needs to be a clamshell.
And unless this thing has a glass screen like the iPhone, it's worthless; the unprotected screen will simply get scratched up.
Yeah, unless this thing is more similiar to the iPhone, it's worthless!
Wait.. what?
@Information Central:
THERE ARE MICS THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE JUST IN FRONT OF YOUR MOUTH TO PICK UP SOUND.
It's called modern technology.
The technology is called bluetooth headset.
It's a tempered glass screen
@Information Central
Sounds like you're one of those idiots that holds the phone out in front of your mouth when talking because you don't understand that the mic can pick up your voice from *gasp* a few inches away.
What are you, 60?
(I agree with you on the glass part though.)
@Information Central:
The iPhone's mic is not even pointing towards the mouth. Is that the end of the world? Jeez.
Isn't the diamond only 4GB? And people forget that the iPhone has a real iPod built right in. Coupled with iTunes, the iPhone is still ahead of the game.(esp w/3G) You can skin Windows Mobile all you want...underneath the hood, it's still Windows Blowbile.
Ok, I want one too.
You mean media player software on it... iPod is a marketing term for a media player on a miniature hard drive or SSD with a headphone jack.
If the iPhone has a REAL iPod in it, where is the click wheel?
I'm pretty sure every phone out these days is an "iPod" of sorts. You've just been sucked in by the marketting garbage that the iPhone is 'exclusive' in being an iPod AND a Phone (2 for 1, OMG). Any media player with a reasonable amount of memory is an 'iPod'.
"Real iPod" = generic audio chip found in most PMPs/smartphones
4GB on the diamond plus unlimited via micro SD cards. What kind of storage card does the iphone use? Oh that's right.. NONE because Jobs doesn't like his customers to have any control over their own devices.
where's my meizu??
Meizu: is the best and most creative idea from Apple to drop windows mobile motivational market right down to earth! [Citation needed]
Forget about Meizu, seriously, it has no chance in front of all the new stuff coming out in less than a month!
Judging from the recent HiPhone lawsuit, I doubt Meizu will have the guts to release anything until their device and GUI look nothing like Apple's.
I can kind of confirm that it will not be exclusive. Not very sure about the USA, but here in the UAE I called a main HTC dealer and they told me that it is going to be available in shops before the USA, and this is bad news and good news for US people, bad news because it might get out little bit late, and good news because based on what I said it will probably be available in many places in the USA. :)
HTC needs only one more thing, and that is an advertising campaign.
The thing all of the others have done wrong is that they will put out a device and then not run a single TV ad touting that it exist.
Dead right! Absolutely dead right.
Well they seem quite plucky recently. The website, and press unveiling is a good start, and I've seen bus adverts in London for the HTC Touch Dual. HTC is already marketed quite well through the operator's high street stores too.
All that's needed is a TV ad.
A tv-spot for the Diamond (And the upcoming Raphael) would really give HTC a boost here in the States.
I can only hope the Diamond and Raphael (haven't looked, sorry) sport a 3.5mm audio jack....My Mogul requires an adapter to convert the USB-Mini (USB on a phone is awesome) to 3.5mm....Which isn't bad since I only use it in the car, but it's something that should be built-in.
But... Microsoft is on the left coast, too...
Id hate to tell Engadget this but psst! Microsoft owns a decent size chunk of Apple
John: pssst. That information is incorrect. You may be thinking of when Microsoft bought 150 mil in Apple shares in 1997. However, Microsoft sold their shares later at a profit.
Here's a link discussing it:
http://microsoft.blognewschannel.com/archives/2007/08/22/how-much-did-microsoft-lose-by-selling-apple-stock/
Looking good, looking very good.
I can see myself wanting one of these when, with my sane cap on, I'd rather wait for Xperia or Raphael.
Has pricing been set (more specifically, UK pricing) yet?
My guess is about £250 for PAYG and up to £120 for contracts. Anyway who cares, well my better half will when I come home with a shiny new toy! Ah the things we do for gadgets. (hmmm, note to self, purchase some earplugs first)
First of all, the thing's too small, so the mic is not at your mouth.
Second, is the screen glass? If not, it's worthless and there's no contest between this and the iPhone. A non-clamshell phone needs a glass screen to prevent scratches. End of story.
I would like to think that they'd probably be using the same scratch-resistant surface the SE phones use, what with their recent collaborations.
And it's not too small at all. You don't need to be fellating the mic to make it work...
From what i saw in a video interview, the htc diamond uses temper glass as the top layer. there more layers on the bottom, glass too but i cant recall the names for the rest of them.
will try to find the video.....
I've had an N73 for about a year now, the screen has no scratches what so ever, and guess what?
It's not glass.
What a lame argument. I suppose in all your Centralizing of Information you somehow failed to read up on a little technical marvel we call disposable screen protector. Isn't technology wonderful?
why do the pics have the most important phone in the distant background, no-one cares about the iphone no more... we want more deet's on the diamond!!
The touch looks very nice, I wouldnt trade my iPhone for it but if you were looking for a new phone its definatly worth a look. I just don't think Id want to sacrafice the screen real estate. Just my opinion...
seems like i can pre-order it for 538€ here in Belgium
also it seems this thing has GPS (Qualcomm One module)
now i definitely want one
538€ ?! It's an outrage. No one will ever buy a phone priced over 300€! It's a niche market! Blah blah blah! Apple sucks, my WinMo device from back in the 70's can do all that and more! Oh.. wait, we're not talking about the iPhone?
Nice try, but comparing a brand new product against a year-old product (especially in the cellphone industry) doesn't prove very much. Run this same comparison against the 3G iPhone and the differences would be much smaller. I think the HTC Diamond will be a very capable handset with nice features. It has a replaceable battery which is a useful feature if you need it.
Well, at least users have a choice. Apple will sell tens of millions of iPhones and HTC might sell a couple of million. Definitely the iPhone will be the biggest selling smartphone of all time based on it's versatility and ease of use.
I'd go for the BlackBerry Bold before that HTC Diamond.
Surely waiting for the 3g iPhone will only mean the size difference is greater between the two? Pardon my possible ignorance if the 3g iphone has anything else new about it.
3g should be standard these days. Apple made a silly mistake (or clever tactic) not putting it in from the start.
"Definitely the iPhone will be the biggest selling smartphone of all time based on it's versatility and ease of use."
How do we count the figures? Do all the generations of the iPhone count as a single smartphone? Is each generation a separate smartphone? Is each memory configuration a separate smartphone?
Are you comparing generic iPhones sales against other companies' individual models? In terms of sales, the iPhone doesn't come close to Nokia's N-series if we're using generic terms for both.
Steffen Jobbs,
Are you saying that the iPhone as it currently exists is antiquated and uncompetitive? Considering that the comparison you commented on is one of size, are you saying that this "3G iPhone" that doesn't yet exist will be smaller? That seems to contradict your comment in another thread:
"I just glad Apple finally made a thicker body and hopefully it will be filled with long-lasting battery goodness."
I am frankly glad it will be thicker as well. The current iPhone is a combination of too thin and slippery. It's clear though, that the difference between this HTC and the 3G iPhone will likely be greater, not less.
Then there's this comment, which you appear to be backing away from:
"That HTC Touch Diamond looks like something Ugly Betty would use. Fits her style rather well."
Hardly.
Regarding your comment "Definitely the iPhone will be the biggest selling smartphone of all time based on it's versatility and ease of use."
That remains to be seen. Until 2.0 is released and Apple proves that it is not heavy-handed when approving 3rd party apps, we cannot say that the iPhone is a smartphone at all, much less the biggest selling of all time based on versatility (which hasn't demonstrated at all yet). There are many smartphones, some of which older than the iPhone, which are far more versatile than the iPhone is today.
HTC will be getting my money as soon as Touch Diamond available from Sprint in US.
HTC Diamond = Windows Mobile
iPhone = OS X Touch
Nuff said Diamond loses.
it looses based on the fact that is has 3rd party software readily available and the fact that you can sync it with an exchange server?
Like someone said before, wait till the new 3g iphone comes out before comparing. The new 3g iphone as well as the old ones will be getting full exchange support and a cisco vpn client in the next major firmware scheduled to be released in June I think it was.
Also, the 3rd party apps argument is null. Have you ever looked into all the things you can install on an iphone with a hacked firmware? There's actually an app that connects to a third party software library where you can download anything you want straight from the phone. No need to connect it to the pc. Hopefully things like this will be out for the regular firmware soon too.
OSX is the winner over Windows?
Hmm... last time I check Windows is 93% of the world's OS and OSX is what, 6%?
Yes jhoeforth, everybody knows that quantity is the same thing as quality. That's why cockroaches are the dominant species on earth. Because there are more of them.
Vlad couldn't of owned you better Al!
@Fernando
'Couldn't have'
Plus there's no possibility that OSX could win a versatility argument over windows mobile. Usability? Maybe. Prettyness? Maybe. Versatility? No chance.
Here's my prediction: this will be an lame Windows Mobile phone with an even lamer UI slapped on the top, but will make 90% of Engadget readers believe that it's somehow better than the iPhone because it has a laundry list of features that you don't need and will never use, at the detriment to battery life and/or reliability.
Meanwhile, anyone who points out that the iPhone has the highest user satisfaction rating of just about anything ever made will be shot down by Engadgeteers as an Apple fanboi.
You know, sometimes, just sometimes, when 90% of people say that something is good, and every other company is attempting to copy it - it might just be because it REALLY IS that good.
Wash your face
"iPhone has the highest user satisfaction rating of just about anything ever made"
No way does the iphone has higher user satisfaction rate than a rabbit vibrator.
""iPhone has the highest user satisfaction rating of just about anything ever made"
No way does the iphone has higher user satisfaction rate than a rabbit vibrator."
Or food.
See the product maybe good, but for some of the product may not be for us as for some actually need some of that laundry list of features, like 3G and built in GPS.
When will the HTC Diamond be out in the states and will it work with verion is is CDMA?
And when will touchflow 3d be built on top of an OS that's not a piece of garbage?
When the US, CDMA, EVDO Rev A, Android-based Diamond is out, let me know.
:P
It took HTC a year to duplicate something and it's still not as good? It's like someone repainted a Picaso on a smaller canvas and put a cheesy frame around it.
Still, no matter what, can't beat the iPhone UI
Can you Cut n' Paste on the iPhone yet?
Yeah, because Cut and Paste is the final say on whether an interface has succeeded where millions of other handsets have failed.
On a side note, the Diamond looks great, looking forward to seeing video of it in action.
Would it have killed them to face the screens at the camera? Those pics make me want a 3g iphone more btw. I have been a WM sackrider for a long time, but I just need the bigger screen to keep my site updated from my phone. I wish someone would come up with a good copy paste solution for the iphone though
I had vowed not to give HTC my money after I bought and got rid of my tilt, why do I still feel so compelled to give them my money after I saw the Diamond?..ill never know.
I'm happy for all the Apple haters who just need a sexy phone with which to effectively trash the iPhone.
But a size comparison between the two is ridiculous, as they have drastically different size screens. I mean if that doesn't matter, why not compare the iPhone (or Diamond for that matter) to a Premini?
http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/June2004/7957.htm
Woooo.... no 3.5mm phone jack!? (According to the Chinese Engadget page).
The phone has A2DP support for stereo blutooth at practically CD quality, so finally ditch those silly wires.
No 3.5mm jack, but it sports a mini-USB jack for both audio and non-proprietary (I'm looking at you Apple) data connections. If you really need your wires, adapters are sold everywhere that range from a simple dongle to a device similar to your Apple Ipod remote w/FF & FR, Pause, etc. that you can plug your own headphones into.
That HTC phone look like a Microsoft Zune lol
any idea when iphone will be available in asia? I heard would be some where end of this year, hmm...
I want to know if I can read the display in direct sunlight?
Once again this last weekend I was spending time outside and having real problems reading the display on my T-Mobile Dash. (HTC Excalibur) The friend with me had no problems with his blackberry pearl. I could nearly read his screen from across the car while I was having problems with my phone in my own hand.
How does the IPhone fare in direct sunlight?
so how many people will get the Diamond just because its NOT an iPhone? Personally I am waiting for the 3G iPhone but it seems there are a lot of folks who for some odd reason are getting excited for Windows Mobile 6.1 and the fact that it isn't an iPhone? Am I the only feeling that way?
Ok, I am not an apple fan and I will be getting a Diamond when it comes out.
Now I must say the Iphone will stay ahead of the diamond as it does have a bigger touch screen and that’s a big part of its appeal. Apple will hurt its self when it add 3g to the next gen Iphone as others will be selling their first gen Iphone of eBay.
At the end of the day the Diamond will be a better phone offering more features and more apps and more capabilities but the big touch screen of the Iphone is a big selling point.
my biggest feat for the diamond is its speed as I am noticing some delays in some youtube videos.
Meizu was the best competition for the Iphone, they need to move to India and forget about patents.
I don't see how people eBaying their 1st gen iPhones is going to hurt Apple in any way. Apple already made their money on those phones, and in fact if people do eBay them it probably means they're going to buy a 2nd gen iPhone. Which means that Apple will make money off the same people twice.
How does that hurt Apple again? Oh, and while the bigger touch screen on the iPhone is a selling point, the UI is a bigger selling point. Nobody has come close to matching it yet, and since it's the interface between you and your phone, it's a pretty important part of the whole "using your phone" thing.
@Zak
"if people do eBay them it probably means they're going to buy a 2nd gen iPhone. Which means that Apple will make money off the same people twice."
Yes, because every iphone owner was 100% satisfied with their purchase and is only ebaying it because they want to upgrade to the 3g phone. Don’t stretch your logic too far you might hurt yourself.
"since it's the interface between you and your phone, it's a pretty important part of the whole "using your phone" thing."
Not to mention quality call reception. The iphone has crappy call quality, and don’t blame at&t for that, that’s a tired fanboy response.
Back on topic-Both these phones are ok, I’m more interested in the Xperia or more info on the Raphael. I prefer a qwerty keyboard.
Oh sure. I'm stretching my logic, but the OP who said ebaying iPhones will hurt Apple is... what? Not stretching his logic? Did you even read the original post? There's this thing called context, you should really look it up. In this case, the context was that people would be ebaying their 1st gen iPhones when the 3G iphones come out.
Do you really think, in that context, that the reason they would be ebaying is because they weren't satisfied with them? Isn't it, oh I don't know, several million times more likely that they're ebaying them at that particular time in order to get a 3G iPhone? In other words, why would you wait until the 3G iPhone comes out to ebay your current iPhone if you weren't satisfied with it? Wouldn't you just ebay it when you decided you didn't like it?
Or is that too much of a stretch for you?
This is one way it could hurt apples sales.
Your offering an upgraded iphone which has 3G, millions of ppl have been living with their Iphone without 3G for years, it’s quite possible that half will see no reason to upgrade and the other half will dump them on eBay which if a new Iphone buyer were to look at the new Iphone form apple and its price and contract, they will fine that they can get an Iphone without a contract and 3G for far less then from apple. And there lies one area of competition.
Yes those selling their 1st Iphone may want to upgrade to the 2nd gen Iphone, but today they may have more of a choice and may try the diamond or something other.
Now if apple were to offer an upgrade to those who already have an Iphone for half the price of the new 3G Iphone they can get back the old Iphone (That will never happen) and upgrade them to 3G and sell them at a profit too.
Keep in mind the Diamond is not locked to AT&T and does far more then the 1st gen and 2nd gen Iphone.
@Zak again
Wow! That’ll teach me to get off the internets and get on with my day. Sorry for the delayed response. As much as it pains me to say it…. I probably didn’t ready the original post as carefully as I should have. But that’s only because I find the fanboy rants much more entertaining. You Sir are the lawn boy in Steve Job’s walled garden.
Your silence in regards to my comment about the iphone call quality leads me to believe that you also think this is a problem.
How’s that for context.